2,480 posts
|
Post by zahidf on Jun 30, 2023 13:33:11 GMT
Whilst a transfer is unlikely, i wouldnt be surprised if it came back to the Barbican next year, as it seems to be a hit so far
|
|
|
|
Post by ladidah on Jul 1, 2023 16:55:28 GMT
Having a bad day, so booked a last minute ticket to see this tonight to get me out
|
|
5,139 posts
|
Post by Being Alive on Jul 1, 2023 22:24:45 GMT
This simply wasn't for me.
I checked out after about 10 minutes and sort of couldn't wait for it to end.
Rest of the audience loved it though so what do I know?
|
|
|
|
Post by apubleed on Jul 2, 2023 8:22:48 GMT
I just think the show is perfect and not that there is any real need to compare them but only because 'Crazy For You' seems to be getting better buzz than this show on this board, comparing them shows exactly why A STRANGE LOOP is so great. A STRANGE LOOP is genuinely challenging, outrageous AND tuneful...Kyle Ramar Freeman deserves the Olivier if he is eligible not Stemp. What a talent.
How can we 'Go Crazy' over what feels like a shallow boring outdated museum piece when we have this over at the Barbican?
|
|
5,139 posts
|
Post by Being Alive on Jul 2, 2023 8:23:43 GMT
Because people like different things.
Having watched last night, Stemp is working harder than the guy in Strange Loop and giving a better performance (to me anyway)...
|
|
2,676 posts
|
Post by viserys on Jul 2, 2023 13:07:00 GMT
what feels like a shallow boring outdated museum piece Maybe because there are people who WANT simple good-natured entertainment when we go to the theatre? We're constantly bombarded with all sorts of challenges in the real world - whether personal challenges at work, in relationships, etc. or the general state of the world with pointless wars, climate change and inflation. I really don't care for anything that's supposedly "challenging and outrageous" at the moment. And the fact that A Strange Loop flopped on Broadway seems to confirm that I am not the only one. It's fine if you love the show and it speaks to you, but please don't presume to speak for the theatre community by using the "we" - WE all have different tastes. |
|
|
|
Post by apubleed on Jul 2, 2023 16:40:26 GMT
The use of ‘we’ was to describe the collective opinion here that ‘we’ think CRAZY FOR YOU is a better evening than ‘A STRANGE LOOP’, which is I think a fair claim if you look at the star ratings and posts. And it is an opinion that yourself appear to agree with. So I’m not really sure why you’d complain about that point.
But if we want to talk about sales unless things can pick up with Crazy For You (and I hope they do because I enjoyed the show even though I think it’s stupid and should not take any awards from Loop except maybe choreography hehe - assuming loop is eligible for awards), A Strange Loop will likely have bought in much higher grosses on Broadway than Crazy For You ever will. Overall I find it irrelevant though as shows flop all the time and I’d never suggest it reflects quality (in fact often it feels like the opposite as quality doesn’t appeal to the mass market sometimes).
|
|
5,139 posts
|
Post by Being Alive on Jul 2, 2023 16:58:07 GMT
IF we really want to go down the route of saying one thread is getting better buzz than the other, it might be handy to actually check that's the case...
I think if you actually add the star ratings up, you'll see that 89% of reviews for Crazy For You are 4 or 5 stars, compared to the 65% on here for A Strange Loop.
The comments about Crazy For You are also more generally positive than A Strange Loop, with more split of opinions for people who didn't like it for ASL than CFY.
So, it actually looks like 'we' think Crazy For You is a better night out than A Strange Loop.
|
|
19,659 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 2, 2023 16:59:35 GMT
I very much doubt that those two shows share much of the same audience. Yes there are MT fans who will see anything and everything they can but I suspect that’s quite a small minority in the greater scheme of things. I don’t know why we’re even discussing the two shows in the same context on this thread. If ASL is eligible for the awards then it will compete on a fair footing with everything else. The winners of awards is always pretty spurious anyway and someone will always be unhappy that X won over Y. To disregard Charlie Stemp who is undoubtedly a very talented actor seems a bit redundant.
|
|
|
|
Post by apubleed on Jul 2, 2023 17:04:31 GMT
IF we really want to go down the route of saying one thread is getting better buzz than the other, it might be handy to actually check that's the case... I think if you actually add the star ratings up, you'll see that 89% of reviews for Crazy For You are 4 or 5 stars, compared to the 65% on here for A Strange Loop. The comments about Crazy For You are also more generally positive than A Strange Loop, with more split of opinions for people who didn't like it for ASL than CFY. So, it actually looks like 'we' think Crazy For You is a better night out than A Strange Loop. Yes, this is exactly the claim I am making. Did you read any of my posts? My whole point is this board ('we') LOVE Crazy For You and not A STRANGE LOOP and I'm simply lamenting on this very point. |
|
5,139 posts
|
Post by Being Alive on Jul 2, 2023 17:14:47 GMT
Oh I have ENTIRELY misread your post apologies - and now I've read it back I'm not sure how I did that?!
|
|
|
|
Post by theatregoer22 on Jul 2, 2023 18:22:27 GMT
what feels like a shallow boring outdated museum piece Maybe because there are people who WANT simple good-natured entertainment when we go to the theatre? We're constantly bombarded with all sorts of challenges in the real world - whether personal challenges at work, in relationships, etc. or the general state of the world with pointless wars, climate change and inflation. I really don't care for anything that's supposedly "challenging and outrageous" at the moment. And the fact that A Strange Loop flopped on Broadway seems to confirm that I am not the only one. It's fine if you love the show and it speaks to you, but please don't presume to speak for the theatre community by using the "we" - WE all have different tastes. Absolutely. My current favourite show (play or musical) since I started going back to the theatre is &Juliet, precisely because it offered mindless fun. |
|
2,676 posts
|
Post by viserys on Jul 2, 2023 19:15:57 GMT
The use of ‘we’ was to describe the collective opinion here that ‘we’ think CRAZY FOR YOU is a better evening than ‘A STRANGE LOOP’, which is I think a fair claim if you look at the star ratings and posts. Alright, I misread that "we" too, probably because I don't see the forum as a collective "we". I haven't seen CFY yet (will do next week) and have zero interest in seeing ASL, so I can't speak for quality, I just think it must be possible to be supportive of your own favourite show and performer without being so dismissive of another show and performer (calling CFY a shallow boring museum piece or that Stemp may not be equally worthy of an award). |
|
|
|
Post by apubleed on Jul 2, 2023 19:25:11 GMT
I don't want to be dismissive to Charlie at all who is doing EXCELLENT work and carrying the entire show, I just wouldn't hand out the award to him as easy as others here would suggest given the competition from Kyle (I am more dismissive of the show but I will try and give it another chance though).
|
|
19,659 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 2, 2023 19:43:42 GMT
|
|
1,470 posts
|
Post by mkb on Jul 2, 2023 19:54:01 GMT
An aside on the comparing of audience ratings for one work versus another: it doesn't really work. One show could be rated lower simply because more people were enticed to see it who were not really its target market.
This happens a lot with movie ratings on imdb.com. Some really good (imho) films get low ratings, and it becomes clear from the reviews people went expecting something entirely different from what the film offered. That's usually down to "bad" marketing. ("Bad" is qualified because it's presumably seen as "good" by the marketeers. They recognise that, if marketed honestly, a film/show will appeal to only a narrow demographic, but make out it's an uproarious comedy, say, and you'll get many more punters in. They don't really care that those people will be disappointed once they have their money.)
Even if two shows were viewed and rated upon by the same group of people, a group that was selected to represent an accurate cross-section of the full population, would you then be able to compare their average ratings as a measure of true quality? I still don't think that would be useful, because no piece of work is designed to appeal to everyone. Niche productions like The Band's Visit would fare very badly on such a test, yet that was highly regarded on here.
And what about shows that are designed to appeal to our baser, less erudite instincts, shows where to engage the brain is a mistake? I've seen some pretty dreadful films that meet that criteria that are scored 7+ on imdb, but you read the reviews and the common denominator is that the contributors are barely half-literate. Those films clearly found their market.
|
|
|
|
Post by ladidah on Jul 3, 2023 7:39:19 GMT
Saw this on Saturday night - along with Carrie Hope Fletcher who got on the same train as me, saw the same show then got the same train back!
Overall I did enjoy it. It was so great to see a show where everyone was intently watching, no talking phones, getting up and down.
What I loved:
. The performances - amazing voices and acting.
. Some of the songs - really stirring and atmospheric.
. The scenes with his parents were beautifully acted and sung. Really affecting.
. It's truly original.
What I didn't like:
. The juxtaposition between hardcore themes and slightly corny songs. I found it really jarring. One minute Usher is clutching onto his backpack smiling and singing hopefully about his dreams, then it's moves onto to scenes so dark and horrific.
. The audience seemed unsure of the plot, people were clapping along to the ironic gospel song.
. I didn't hear 70% of the lyrics - they are very fast.
. As many people have noted, a lot of the references aren't for a London audience, I barely knew who Tyler Perry is.
|
|
125 posts
|
Post by annette on Jul 3, 2023 12:26:59 GMT
I could be wrong, but I think the juxtaposition you mentioned is a deliberate way of lulling the audience into one kind of mood ( although I don’t think I’d call the songs corny exactly, probably more ironically peppy) and then breaking that mood so strongly to bring everyone down to earth with a brutal change of tone.
I’ve seen the show three times now (twice in NY and once in London) and if you’re referring to the Inwood Daddy scene, it’s no less uncomfortable to watch when you know what’s coming. I also thought the lighting and blocking of that scene in the London production was a lot less subtle or at least it appeared that way to me. That made the horror of the scene even worse. I still can’t really decide if that scene is unnecessarily explicit - I think perhaps the dramatic narrative point could have been achieved in a less graphic way in both the book and staging.
I’m not sure if the audience clapping along to the gospel song was because they were unsure of the plot. I think it may have been more of an automatic reaction when being encouraged to do so. Every time I’ve seen the show, it’s only happened with a small number of people who stop clapping really quickly when they realise what they’re clapping along to. Again I think it’s a deliberate wrong footing on the part of the writer.
I absolutely agree with you about not being able to hear some lyrics. The songs are very wordy and many are up-tempo ,so it’s essential that the sound is crystal clear and the cast are really enunciating the lyrics. This wasn’t as big a problem in NY and I think this may in part have been due to it playing in a much smaller theatre than the Barbican. I had a similar problem when I went to see My Neighbour Totoro there.
I was wondering what the writer was going to do about the lack of recognition of Tyler Perry in the UK. I don’t know if there was anything in the programme, but it can’t be relied on that every member of the audience will buy one of those.
I thought perhaps they might put fliers on the seats or some sort of notices inside the auditorium to explain who he is. I know that’s a terribly clunky idea, but a whole motif in the show is completely lost if you don’t know this reference. I had no idea who he was when I first saw the show and neither did my husband who iis American ( albeit a London resident for the last 30yrs). I’m surprised the writer/producers didn’t feel there was a need to address this issue.
Glad to hear you enjoyed much of the show though.
|
|
|
|
Post by Matt on Jul 3, 2023 12:35:02 GMT
I thought perhaps they might put fliers on the seats or some sort of notices inside the auditorium to explain who he is. I know that’s a terribly clunky idea, but a whole motif in the show is completely lost if you don’t know this reference. I had no idea who he was when I first saw the show and neither did my husband who iis American ( albeit a London resident for the last 30yrs). I’m surprised the writer/producers didn’t feel there was a need to address this issue. Glad to hear you enjoyed much of the show though. This would never happen at all, but I thought the dialogue did a really good job of explaining who he was and what he did (even though I already knew him). I don’t think anyone would be too confused with the message they were getting across here, but more so would like to know who he is as a reference point. |
|
|
|
Post by ladidah on Jul 3, 2023 12:35:03 GMT
I totally agree with you abut Inwood Daddy, it's supposed to be jarring. I just think for me it was too much - which I expect is the intention. When he gets up and hurriedly leaves I felt very tearful.
Tyler Perry - I'ts hard when a reference is so specific to a country, but I got the overall vibe. The audience did seem bemused, the American in front of me found it hysterical.
|
|
125 posts
|
Post by annette on Jul 3, 2023 16:06:23 GMT
Actually thinking about it, it would have been easy to explain and contextualise Tyler Perry with a couple of added lines from the agent when he proposed to Usher that he could do some writing for him.
The group I was with were all confused about the reference and if you’re spending time trying to work out who TP is, you’re missing other vital parts of the show.
You don’t get that problems like that in the Charlie Stemp show 😆.
|
|
|
|
Post by apubleed on Jul 3, 2023 16:11:43 GMT
|
|
125 posts
|
Post by annette on Jul 3, 2023 16:18:18 GMT
I totally agree with you abut Inwood Daddy, it's supposed to be jarring. I just think for me it was too much - which I expect is the intention. When he gets up and hurriedly leaves I felt very tearful. Tyler Perry - I'ts hard when a reference is so specific to a country, but I got the overall vibe. The audience did seem bemused, the American in front of me found it hysterical. Yes, I felt pretty heart sore at the end of the scene, as I did so many times during the show. I think less would have been more in terms of the graphic detail and it took me out of the narrative momentarily. Obviously as an audience we are supposed to feel the impact masochism, sadism and racism of the scene, but that’s going to be less affecting if it makes an audience want to turn away. |
|
125 posts
|
Post by annette on Jul 3, 2023 16:27:33 GMT
With respect I disagree with you, especially having seen the huge difference between the American audience reaction to the TP material compared to the English one.i don’t think it spoils the show at all, but finding the meaning in something ( in my opinion) is means something other to me than a factual reference that’s obviously going to baffle a foreign audience. I wouldn’t say it was fully explained during the show either, but that’s subjective of course. After heaping praise on the show,,the group of friends I was with were all asking the same question ( ‘but who is Tyler Perry?). |
|
2,743 posts
|
Post by n1david on Jul 3, 2023 16:50:10 GMT
I quite quickly worked out the premise of Tyler Perry when I saw the show in New York, what I missed was that I couldn't check until after the show whether Perry was a real person or a constructed character. Knowing that he is a real person and understanding some of his work would have given that aspect of the show more relevance, compared to the character being fictional.
(Fun fact: Perry is godfather to one of Harry and Meghan's kids and put them up for a few months when they moved to California)
|
|
